Improbable

Improbable has been presenting award-winning theatre, from very small scale performances to large scale plays and operas, for 20 years. We add high-quality work to the cultural landscape, and tour our work as much as possible to benefit those living outside London. We also run Open Space forums around the state of the arts and contemporary theatre practice.

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Activities & Mission

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Country

United States

Region

England

Financial Information

Latest Income

£548,892

Latest Expenditure

£537,982

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 95.9%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 65% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 962). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 97.8%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 50% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 2.8%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 51% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £359,150

Charitable Activities £188,721

Other Trading £0

Investments £1,021

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £526,266

Raising Funds £11,716

Governance £3,200

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£548,892	£537,982	£526,266	£227,240	£224,040	7 / 0
2024	£632,121	£632,598	£618,937	£216,269	£196,071	6 / 0
2023	£549,192	£576,670	£576,670	£158,756	£158,756	6 / 0
2022	£398,412	£455,361				0 / 0
2021	£470,441	£309,477				0 / 1

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Improbable

What does Improbable do?

How much income did Improbable report in 2025?

Improbable reported total income of £549k and reported expenditure of £538k for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Improbable?

Improbable has a program ratio of 95.9%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 65% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 962 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Improbable registered as a charity?

Improbable was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 7 February 2014 as charity number 1155695. It has been registered for 12 years.

Who runs Improbable?

Improbable is governed by a board of 9 trustees. The chair of trustees is Erica Whyman. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Improbable operate?

Improbable operates across 2 areas: United States and England.

Is Improbable a registered charity?

Yes — Improbable is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1155695.